Hong Kong

Hong Kong Travel Guide

In Asia’s most cosmopolitan city, everyone seems to be in a rush—dashing off to work in some soaring highrise, hurrying to catch a tram or a subway, speed-shopping through the countless shopping malls, hastening to make a date at one of the myriad glassed-in restaurants and chic cocktail bars. Beyond the 21st-century cacophony and the accelerated tempo, however, the savvy visitor can find glimpses of old-world tranquillity: incense-wreathed Taoist temples; polished hotel lobbies serving afternoon tea in the English style; rustic remote walking trails; graceful tai-chi practitioners in tidy city parks. Hong Kong’s relatively small size—the city “only” holds seven million people—superb public transportation system, cheap taxis, and bilingual signage make it a cinch to navigate. Just remember to slow down every now and then.

On China's south coast between the Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea, Hong Kong has a population of seven million people. The city is called many things, not least of all a country in and of itself. As the world's most vertical and arguably futuristic city with high-tech transportation, it's a fascinating place to explore. Tap into the city's frenetic energy with our Hong Kong travel guide.

Things Not to Miss in Hong Kong

If you're heading to Hong Kong in the summer, attend the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. Hundreds of thousands of people flock here each year to watch 5,000 athletes participate in dragon boat races. If you plan to visit Hong Kong in the winter, consider organizing your trip around the 15 Days of Chinese New Year Celebration. It's one enormous street party complete with elaborate floats and performers. During your Hong Kong travel, also visit the Peak, the island's highest point.

When to Visit Hong Kong

Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate and four distinct seasons. Any are a great time to travel to Hong Kong, but autumn and winter are the most temperate. Spring brings in the humidity, summer is hot and humid, autumn is sunny and breezy, and winter is cool and dry.

DON'T MISS

Riding the Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui. The ride provides glorious views of the city skyline—and costs just 28 cents a pop.

Horse races at downtown Happy Valley or suburban Sha Tin. Locals here are huge gamblers, and nothing gets them more excited than laying bets on the ponies each week.

Poking among centuries-old treasures in the antique shops of Central’s Hollywood Road.

Articles about Hong Kong

What are the most expensive cities to visit on business?London?Paris?Zurich?Two consulting firms (one American, one Swiss) studied this question and came up with the same answer: Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Moscow. The U.S. firm, Runzheimer Internatio...

Four Seasons' famously comfortable beds have some new competition, now that Westin has introduced its trademarked heavenly bed and W Hotels has added linens from Portico. Laura Begley goes to the mattresses to find out who's the best among the maj...

Sustainability
“People want to create spaces that tell their story,” Global Vision Awards jury member David Gensler says. “They want to be direct and inspiring in a complicated world.” These four winners embrace the idea that building and operati...

Hong Kong
A burgeoning cultural scene is giving a new dimension to this fast-paced city.
Art Walks
Four noteworthy galleries and neighborhoods to explore.
Wong Chuk Hang: Cutting-edge art spaces are colonizing the former industrial zone. Veter...

On a lushly planted terrace high above the mad dash of Central Hong Kong, a Gatsbyesque bacchanal is fully under way. It’s a balmy May evening with threats of a downpour, but the humidity does little to quash the revelry. The verdant rooftop aerie...

See our slideshow of the Best Hotel Gym Views.
From the 47th floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, sunbeams play off the perfect cone of Mount Fuji. Far below, Tokyo’s frenetic pace is reduced to a silent pulse of miniscule cars and people. You take ano...

Changi Airport, in Singapore, is the 15th busiest airport in the world. It serves more than 51 million passengers a year—about the same as New York City’s JFK—but very much unlike JFK, it is universally popular, beloved even. Changi has placed in ...

See more Best Places to Eat Like a Local
Al Soussi, Beirut, Lebanon: For more than 50 years, this pint-size kitchen in West Beirut has been serving an irresistible version of fatteh, made with layers of toasted pita, chickpeas, yogurt, and pine n...